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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. When does Ghosh return home from the prison?

2. What plan does Shiva come up with to save Marion?

3. What does Marion find at Rosina's bungalow?

4. How do the rich hospitals collect organs from Marion's hospital?

5. What does Genet ask Marion to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Marion and Hema find in Rosina's bungalow when they go there after hearing noises?

2. What does Marion do to express his anger towards Stone?

3. What does Marion do when he finds out where Dr. Stone is?

4. What does Stone say is the reason he never returned to Africa to claim his children?

5. How does Marion see Tsige again?

6. What does Stone tell Marion about how he ended up in Africa?

7. Why is Genet in America, and why does Marion not beat her?

8. What is Marion doing about Ghosh being in prison?

9. What do the nurses ask Marion to do when Popsy enters the operating room?

10. How does Marion find out that Genet is in America?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "Cutting for Stone" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "Cutting for Stone" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1, and then judge if "Cutting for Stone" is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider "Cutting for Stone" a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 3

It is highly symbolic that the blood vessels that once connected Shiva and Marion as one body are the ones to explode, ultimately killing Shiva. After Shiva's death, however, Marion feels like order is restored, that he and Shiva truly are one body again, and he even begins using the word "we" instead of "I" in this first-person narration.

1. Discuss in depth the symbolism of the blood vessels that connected Shiva and Marion killing him. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think Shiva would have undergone the surgery if he had known ahead of time that he would die? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Marion's attitude towards Genet and his thought that he and his twin are one again following Shiva's death may indicate he has some form of delusional thinking. Discuss the possibilities of this statement. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,080 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample